Lucy’s Lines
Growing Roses Organically
By Lucy Harrell T.C.N.P.-A Specialist On Demanding Environments Having roses can be easy if you just plant them the right way in the right spot and understand a few things about how roses grow. Since I don’t know what you have been taught—let’s just start over and learn this simple way from scratch. Antique or [...]
Newsflash! Dealing with the Heat
I’m sure that you would guess that a lot of plant problems in July/August are heat related–it’s hot–it’s dry and sometimes windy-so plants, grass and trees are having a hard time holding onto water-they need enough watering of the soil to give them a good drink every 5 -7 days in clay and 3-5 days in sand depending on your plant [...]
The Guide to Proper Watering
Watering Test This test is for overhead systems only— not drip irrigation, soaker hoses, etc-for those systems you will need to water and then check and see if you have actually gotten the soil wet down to 6 inches in the ground. For Overhead (traditional systems) You will need—10 small cans-or like- with an inch [...]
Attracting Hummingbirds To Your Garden
Hummingbirds provide a lot of theatre-type enjoyment to us, and since the beautiful Flame Acanthus in the picture below is sitting just outside my office window, I have a constant parade of delicate dancers swooping in and out for a drink. Hummingbird feeders work to attract them too and can be hung right outside a [...]
Composting 101 – Lazy Compost
As simple as you can make it – is your best way. Location—anywhere—but shade in Texas is best. Nitrogen Wet or Green Contents – green leaves-food scraps (veggies and fruit–coffee grounds,- egg shells, -green leaves) Carbon Dry or Brown Contents-dry leaves,-dry grass, if needed for dry material – shredded newspaper Always cover wet / green [...]
Mole Control– and Other Strange Critters
Yesterday I had a very full day–I realized the evening before that I have had a mole running amok through my north flower beds–the little critter had tunneled up under my cone flowers and other perennials-leaving their roots pushed up into the hot air and they looked pretty damaged as a result–I had two choices–trap / kill the [...]
